October 7, 2007
Clamour Grows in Nepal for PM's Ouster
By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu
Clamour began mounting in Nepal for the resignation of Prime
Minister Girija Prasad Koirala after his multi-party government
announced the indefinite postponement of a much-awaited election,
for the second time this year.
The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), one of
the largest parties in the country and a major partner in the ruling
coalition, blamed the "inert" prime minister and "obdurate" Maoists
for the poll fiasco and warned it could jeopardise the peace
process.
The UML, along with two other ruling parties, had opposed the
agreement struck between Koirala's Nepali Congress party and the
Maoists Friday to put off the Nov 22 election.
As the top leaders of the UML began consultations to discuss the
fallout of the poll postponement, the verdict was that Koirala
should step down for his continued failure to hold the election,
regarded as crucial for restoring peace and stability in Nepal.
"The suspension of the election programme has jeopardised the accord
between the Maoists and other parties, the peace pact, the
constitution and the entire peace process," the UML said in a
statement issued after the meeting of its central committee members.
"The historic chance to hold the constituent assembly election has
been missed due to the anti-election thoughts, behaviour and
obduracy of the Maoists, combined with the inaction of the prime
minister."
A fresh blow for Koirala came from a former ally, a powerful ethnic
group from the Terai plains, with whom the government had reached an
understanding only last month.
The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, that registered itself as a party for
the first time this year to fight the November election, said the
premier and the government should quit immediately for failing to
hold the polls in time.
Upendra Yadav, chief of the Terai party, said parliament should be
dissolved along with the cabinet and a caretaker government formed
to hold the election.
The fate of the hastily cobbled pact between the Forum and the
government, that allowed the government to avert disruptive protests
in the plains by the former, now lies in the balance.
"We had suspended our key demands - the immediate abolition of
monarchy and adopting a fully proportional system for the election -
on the assurance the election would be held on Nov 22," Yadav said.
"The indefinite postponement violates our pact with the government."
Now Koirala would have to grapple with a fresh round of protests
from the Forum from Wednesday, 24 hours before a crucial special
session of parliament that he is hoping would defuse the crisis.
From Oct 10, the Forum has called a fresh protest programme in the
troubled Terai plains.
The party of a former prime minister, who is close to both King
Gyanendra and India, also began clamouring for Koirala's exit.
The Rastriya Janashakti Party of Surya Bahadur Thapa, who was
nominated prime minister by King Gyanendra in 2003, is holding
Koirala, the Maoists and the UML responsible for the debacle.
Prakash Chandra Lohani, a former finance minister, and senior leader
of the party, said the government lacked both political will and
governance skills and should step down for failing to meet people's
aspirations.
Despite the growing demand, there were indications from Koirala's
party that he would hold on to power though he had been repeatedly
saying he would quit if he failed to hold the election in November.
It also seemed unlikely that the month-long impasse paralysing Nepal
would be resolved by parliament Thursday.
The Maoists forced the prime minister to call the special session so
that the legislators could vote to decide whether Nepal's
238-year-old monarchy should be scrapped and a fully proportional
system be used for the polls.
The crisis was triggered after Koirala refused to agree to either
demand and the Maoists walked out of the government, announcing they
would oppose the election.
Even now, the rebels are warning that they would not allow the
election if their demands are not met while Koirala's party says it
will vote against the Maoist proposal in parliament next week.
Since Koirala's party is the biggest in the house, its opposition
will prevent the Maoists from getting the required two-third
majority and their demands will be rejected, triggering the same
opposition from them.
The rebels are already gearing up for fresh protests to mount
pressure on the parties.
On Thursday, the day of the special session, they have called a
nationwide protest, which will include encircling Singh Durbar, the
administrative complex where parliament is located.
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